Overview

• The alleged incident occurred July 29 on a flight from Atlanta to Fresno after a dispute over water for the passenger’s 2‑year‑old son.
• A witness statement read at a press conference claimed the slap was loud enough to be heard through noise‑canceling headphones.
• Delta confirmed the flight attendant has been suspended and said an internal investigation is underway.
• The passenger, Mohammad Shibli, says officers questioned the crew member after landing, though he does not know if any charges were pursued.
• The planned suit seeks roughly a day of Delta’s profits—reported between about $9.5 million and $20 million—plus companywide training, with Shibli’s attorney citing the wife’s “Palestine” shirt and a 2024 lapel‑pin controversy; legal commentators note potential hurdles in holding the airline liable for an employee’s intentional act.